City of Laredo Outdoor Spaces Grant Program (Texas)

The City of Laredo Outdoor Spaces Grant Program will provide financial support in the form of grants to small business owners and nonprofits to assist with ongoing pandemic recovery or to improve the location’s outdoor space.

Donor Name: LiftFund

State: Texas

City: Laredo

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: All Time

Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000

Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned

Details:

This program, funded by the City of Laredo and administered by LiftFund, supports small businesses and nonprofit organizations with

Grant Tracks

Applicants may apply for one of two grant tracks:

Category A: Pandemic Recovery Grant (up to $5,000) — Funds may be used for working capital, inventory, business rent/mortgage, payroll, utilities, etc.
Category B: Outdoor Space Improvement Grant (up to $25,000) — Funds may be used to cover the cost of design, engineering, materials and labor for the eligible projects below. The grant amount will be based on the project quote.
- The following limitations apply:
  - Category B recipients cannot use funds to pay the applicant, their employees or contractors.
  - Category B recipients must disclose funds received through other local or federal grant funding that will be used for the project, including but not limited to City Small Business Assistance Grants previously administered by LiftFund or CARES Act grants. Separate funding sources cannot cover the same costs.

Eligibility Criteria

There are two sets of eligibility criteria — the first for both grant tracks, the second for Category B applicants only.

Primary Eligibility Criteria
- Business must be located within the City of Laredo.
- Annual gross sales between $10,000 and $2 million
  - Gross sales are determined based on Line 1 of Schedule C or Line 1a of 1120, 1120S, or 1065
- Experienced negative impact on operations due to the pandemic
  - For businesses formed prior to March 15, 2020, negative impact is evidenced by a decrease in gross revenue on business tax return between 2019 and 2020, 2021, 2022 or 2023. (Line 1 of Schedule C or Line 1a of 1120, 1120S, 990/990EZ or 1065)
  - For businesses formed March 15, 2020 to February 21, 2021, negative impact is evidenced by an attestation of negative impact as a result of the emergency orders, shelter in place, stay at home or continuing emergency measures which were issued beginning March 16, 2020 and were in effect until February 21, 2021. (Template provided in application)
- For businesses formed between February 22, 2021 and May 11, 2023, negative impact is evidenced by an attestation that applicants started their business as a result of the pandemic. (Template provided in application)
- Be in good standing with the Texas Comptroller’s Office, if applicable
- Business activity not within a prohibited industry
  - Ineligible businesses include: Franchisors, home based businesses (Category B only), gambling/gaming businesses, sexually oriented businesses, payday and auto loan providers, tobacco, CBD or vape stores, government-owned and/or occupied buildings. See the list of ineligible NAICS codes here.
- Business operating on or before May 11, 2023 and currently operating
Secondary Eligibility Criteria (Category B Applicants Only)
- Be in good standing and registered with the City of Laredo Tax Office, as well as current with local taxes and fees
- Must have no current unpaid code enforcement liens or violations of any local, state, federal laws
- Must be current on all taxes including payroll, sales, unemployment, property, state, and federal
- If applicable, plans must be approved by the City of Laredo Historical District/Landmark Board
- Meet all codes and ordinances of the City of Laredo
- Secure any necessary permit(s) from the City of Laredo before work may commence. Applications will not be considered if any code or ordinance violations exist.
- The grant cannot be used to pay for work that is currently in progress or has been already completed.
- The applicant’s project must be completed within 120 days of receipt of funds.
- Once the applicant advises the City of Laredo that work is complete, the Economic Development Department will schedule a formal project inspection along with the applicant to ensure the project complied with all terms and conditions of the program, and to verify all expenses total the grant request.